Preeclampsia may influence offspring neuroanatomy and cognitive function: A role for placental growth factor?

Preeclampsia may influence offspring neuroanatomy and cognitive function: A role for placental growth factor? Biol Reprod. 2019 Jun 07;: Authors: Kay VR, Rätsep MT, Figueiró-Filho EA, Croy BA Abstract Preeclampsia (PE) is a common pregnancy complication affecting 3-5% of women. PE is diagnosed clinically as new-onset hypertension with associated end organ damage after 20 weeks of gestation. Despite being diagnosed as a maternal syndrome, fetal experience of PE is a developmental insult with lifelong cognitive consequences. These cognitive alterations are associated with distorted neuroanatomy and cerebrovasculature, including a higher risk of stroke. The pathophysiology of a PE pregnancy is complex, with many factors potentially able to affect fetal development. Deficient pro-angiogenic factor expression is one aspect that may impair fetal vascularization, alter brain structure and affect future cognition. Of the pro-angiogenic growth factors, placental growth factor (PGF) is strongly linked to PE. Concentrations of PGF are inappropriately low in maternal blood both before and during a PE gestation. Fetal concentrations of PGF appear to mirror maternal circulating concentrations. Using Pgf-/- mice that may model effects of PE on offspring, we demonstrated altered central nervous system vascularization, neuroanatomy and behaviour. Overall, we propose that development of the fetal brain is impaired in PE, making the offspring of pree...
Source: Biology of Reproduction - Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Tags: Biol Reprod Source Type: research